Chapter 19 #3
She’d seen just how torn Joe was, by the way this was affecting Esther and his desire to do the right thing by Hope.
Despite all their talk of time being all that was needed, she knew there was a good chance that might not be true.
St Piran’s was like being in a goldfish bowl and the chances of not bumping into Esther or Joe while they waited for things to settle down were very small.
It wasn’t just Esther who would struggle with that, Hope was pretty sure Joe would too, and she knew for certain that she would.
If she saw Joe around the hospital, she’d want to talk to him and the same went for Esther and Danni.
She’d liked their company long before she’d revealed her secret and it would be almost impossible to keep her distance while they all lived within a couple of miles of each other and worked in the same place.
That meant she had every intention of stepping away, not just from Joe and Esther, but life in Cornwall too.
All Esther had asked for was time, but Hope was going to give her space, to give them all space, which meant she’d be leaving Port Agnes as soon as she possibly could.
‘I’m sorry, I can’t let you go.’ Jess’s tone was firm and Hope squirmed in her seat.
She hated the idea of leaving the team in the lurch, and she could tell from the expression on Jess’s face that she wasn’t taking the news well.
Hope had told Jess everything that had happened, because she needed her to understand why she had to go straight away.
If her plight had moved Jess, she wasn’t given any indication of it. So Hope had to hammer the point home.
‘As a Band 5, I know I’m supposed to give eight weeks’ notice, but if there’s anything you can do to allow me to go earlier, I’d be really grateful.
I wouldn’t ask, but the longer I’m here the harder it will be for Esther, and I know she’s a friend of yours.
’ If it was manipulative to say that, she didn’t care.
She wasn’t doing this for her own benefit.
It was all for Esther, because the truth was she really didn’t want to leave.
She loved her job and the split between the hospital and the midwifery unit, but she really couldn’t see any other way forward.
‘She is a friend of mine and she’d hate the idea that I’m losing an excellent midwife because of what’s happened. She’d also hate the idea that she’s the reason you’re leaving a job you’re not just brilliant at, but that you really enjoy too. Don’t tell me that’s not true.’
‘It is true. I do love the job and the team, but Esther asked for time and how can she get what she needs if I’m hanging around, reminding her every time she sees my face?’
‘I get that.’ Jess’s tone softened for the first time since Hope had said she wanted to leave. ‘But I think there’s another solution.’
‘There is?’ Hope raised her eyebrows, not wanting to allow herself to believe that might be true, only to have the chance of staying dashed.
‘I’ll need to confirm it with Anna first, but I’m certain we can arrange it so that you work solely in the community from now on.
At least until you feel ready to go back to the hospital again.
’ Jess leant forward in her seat, on the opposite side of the desk from where Hope was sitting.
‘The chances of you coming into direct contact with Esther, or Joe, if you’re working solely in the community are next to zero.
And I can get someone else from the team to help out at the infertility support group, although I’ll be very surprised if Esther wants to attend at the moment. ’
‘It’s not that I don’t want to stay, I really do, but I’ll still be in Port Agnes, less than two miles from where Esther and Joe are living.’
‘I understand that, but I think we should at least give this a try.’ Jess rubbed at her temples.
‘Look, if you really want to leave, I’m not going to force you to work out your notice, because I can only imagine how hard all of this is.
But we really, really, really don’t want to lose you, and you’ve already said you don’t want to go.
How about I informally accept this as notice of your intention to leave and, if after four weeks, you don’t think the new arrangement is working, you can go, without having to work further notice. ’
‘Can you do that? How will you manage?’ Hope desperately wanted to accept the compromise, because she hadn’t realised just how much she wanted to stay until she’d told Jess that she intended to leave.
‘I’ll use midwives from NHS Professionals if it comes to it, but for now, Matilda, the midwife who’s due to join us on Monday, has said she’s happy to work solely at the hospital.
She can cover your half post there, and you can cover hers in the community.
’ Jess smiled for the first time. ‘It’s all sorted and I know Anna will be more than happy to agree to it, rather than lose you. So all you’ve got to do is say yes.’
Hope pressed her lips together, trying to clear her mind for long enough to think straight, but it was no good, there were just too many thoughts racing through her brain. All she could do was to go with her gut instead and hope she made the right choice. ‘Yes, please. I’d really like that.’